Brilliant Birmingham secure huge win against cagey Coventry

Birmingham City 3-0 Coventry City

Ryan Hanks reports from St Andrew’s

In what was a huge game for relegation-threatened Birmingham they hosted Coventry who were pushing for the play-offs in a Sky Bet Championship west midlands derby.

Both sides started evenly but unexpectedly it was the hosts who took the lead after a brilliant piece of work by Keshi Anderson saw his cross turned into the net by Coventry defender Bobby Thomas.

Coventry had the chance to equalise through top scorer Haji Wright in the 20th minute after he took advantage of a John Ruddy poor clearance but his first-time effort from 30 yards out struck the bar.

Five minutes before half-time Birmingham made their dominance count and Ivan Sunjic, who did not let his earlier booking play on his mind, found himself free on the edge of the box to strike the ball low in the centre of the goal to fire the hosts 2-0 ahead following a corner.

The first action of the second half saw an altercation between Stansfield and Latibeaudiere result in them both picking up a yellow.

Stansfield got the better of the two in the end and St Andrew’s erupted when Tyler Roberts’ beautiful through ball split the Coventry defence and found the number twenty-eight who’s first time effort from close range slithered under Collins to make it 3-0.

Birmingham will now take momentum and confidence in to their next game against table-footers and already relegated Rotherham as they continue to fight against relegation to Sky Bet League One.

On the other hand, Coventry must be better in their next game as they travel to Wembley for the second time in a year when they face Premier League giants Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-final.